Cavs rest KU’s Agbaji in final NBA summer league game; Miami Heat to keep Garrett

The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers decided to rest their No. 1 draft pick, Ochai Agbaji, on Saturday, figuring four NBA 2K23 Summer League games in eight days were enough to evaluate the former Kansas guard in his first taste of professional basketball.

The 6-foot-5 Agbaji, who was chosen No. 14 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, averaged 15.0 points and 4.8 rebounds a game for the Cavs, who defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 94-90, Saturday in Las Vegas to finish 3-2 overall, 1-0 without Agbaji in the lineup in the summer league games.

Agbaji hit 37.3% of his shots including 37.5% of his threes. He hit 90.9% of his free throws and averaged 2.3 assists to 1.3 turnovers per game.

During his senior season at Kansas, the Kansas City native averaged 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He hit 47.5% of his shots, including 40.7% of his threes and 74.3% of his free throws.

Agbaji will leave Vegas the way he arrived a week and a half ago — as somebody the Cavs are hoping can make the regular rotation and add some much-needed outside shooting to the lineup of a possible playoff contender.

“We are excited about him,” Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said during an interiew during a recent game broadcast on the Cavs’ official Website. “It’s a little different for us. In the lottery we (usually) take high upside swings and younger talent and with Ochai, four-year college vet, national champion, that comes with a lot of accolades, we’re excited to bring him into the fold. He already has some incredible habits.

“We were very hopeful he was there (at 14). He had an unbelievable workout in Cleveland (before draft), really proved himself and also he’s just an incredible human being. He fits with our culture and our group and gives us something we don’t have — a dynamic floor spacer but you can run stuff for him. You can run him off a bunch of down screens and fly him off stuff and hopefully Darius Garland gets him some open shots,” Altman added.

Garrett signs new 2-way contract with Miami

Former KU combo uard Marcus Garrett showed enough in the Miami Heat’s first three summer league games in Las Vegas to secure a new 2-way contract.

The Heat announced Saturday that Garrett, who was released from a 2-way contract with the Heat last January during his rookie season, had been signed to a new 2-way deal.

Terms were not disclosed according to team policy. However according to hoopshype.com, he will receive $508,891 in 2022-23. If he is with the team in 2023-24, his salary would grow to $1,761,752.

The Heat also announced the signing of Darius Days to a 2-way deal Saturday, while waiving Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart.

A two-way contract allows for a player, such as second-year pro Garrett, to play both for the Heat and the Heat’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota during the upcoming season.

Garrett, 23, appeared in 12 games with the Heat last season before undergoing season-ending right wrist surgery. At that time, the Heat cut Garrett, who did his rehab work on his shooting hand at the Heat facility in Miami.

Garrett, a 6-5 Dallas native, did not play in the Heat’s fifth and final summer league game — an 86-83 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. He sat the Heat’s final two games both via coach’s decision.

Garrett averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game on 31.6% shooting in the three games he played in summer league. The Heat finished summer league with a 2-3 record.

McCormack scores eight points in summer finale

Former KU power forward David McCormack scored eight points on 3-of-7 shooting and grabbed four rebounds while starting and playing 19 minutes in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ final summer league game — Saturday’s 89-86 victory over Charlotte.

The 6-foot-10 McCormack was 2-of-2 from the line. He also had one steal and one turnover.

McCormack, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Minnesota after not being selected in the June 23 NBA Draft, averaged 7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in four summer league games. He hit 42.9% of his shots; 66.7% of his free throws.

McCormack had been rested and did not play in the Wolves’ fourth summer league game. Minnesota went 2-3 in Vegas.

The Norfolk, Virginia native’s Exhibit 10 contract, according to hoopsrumors.com, is a “non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract that can be converted into a 2-way deal before the regular season begins. If a player on an Exhibit 10 is waived and becomes an affiliate player for his team’s G League squad — in this case, the Iowa Wolves — he’s eligible to receive a bonus worth up to $50K.”

Christian Braun’s Denver Nuggets are scheduled to play their fifth and final summer league game Sunday against Utah. It is possible Braun, who has started four games, will be rested and held out of Sunday’s contest.